Hygienic Toothbrush Holder

ABSTRACT

A hygienic toothbrush holder with a structural plane having a top surface and a bottom surface and having at least one variable size opening and at least one fastener opening. The fastener opening is capable of removable attachment to a plurality of fixtures with the at least one variable size opening and the at least one fastener opening are disposed on said structural plane. Furthermore the present invention teaches the use of tubular inserts having openings on both ends for unobstructed air circulation. The invention may be mounted onto a wall fixture, attached directly to a support surface or set on a support stand.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application claims prior of a U.S. Patent No. 61/962,816 filed onNov. 18, 2013, the contents of which are fully incorporated herein byreference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a hygienic toothbrush holder. Thepresent invention also relates to a utility adapter that effectivelyextends the use of bathroom fixtures. The device also reduces vanity topclutter and promotes overall family harmony, as everyone's oral hygienedevices are securely tucked away in their own individual niches.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Toothbrush handles have evolved into larger sizes to facilitate easiermanipulation in brushing different areas of the mouth. Varieties nowinclude arthritic handles, handles that hide bristle motors andbatteries, as well as a multitude of visually stimulating handles takingon shapes that appeal to younger brushers. As a result, a great numberof these handles no longer fit the traditional wall mounted toothbrushholders or the newer counter top holders. Consequently, toothbrushesoften wind up placed haphazardly in unhygienic locations.

To demonstrate that there is a present and unfulfilled need for anapparatus embodied by the present invention, one need only go online tosee the numerous attempts to find a solution to store the displacedtoothbrushes. The present solutions introduce aesthetically pleasingapproaches, all of which fail to address the problems that are addressedby the present invention. Current research reveals some of the betterattempts at a solution in a form of toy like toothbrush holders, placedrandomly on the working surface of sink vanities. While they promise toaccommodate multi-sized toothbrushes, they are often instable, allowunhygienic contact between the brushes, and frequently take up too muchspace on the counter top. Also, these make the wall fixture, which mayalready be installed, appear useless and out of place.

The present invention therefore, introduces the solution embodied in thehygienic tooth brush holder. This holder may be mounted onto an existingfixture by a sink, which securely holds any size brush, while stillproviding a utility space for a rinsing glass. The solution described inthe present invention does not sacrifice hygiene by keeping significantdistance between each individual toothbrush. The brushes are also heldin such a fashion as allow them to dry properly in unobstructed air. Forthe first time a toothbrush holder can be truly hygienic.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

A U.S. Pat. No. 6,511,030 discloses a toothbrush holder adapter having,an elongated body, an insertion member extending downwardly from a firstend of the body to be inserted into a hole of a standard toothbrushholder and an opening at a second end of the body for receiving at leasta portion of a toothbrush handle. The insertion member preferablyincludes extensions or fins to engage the interior of the opening of astandard toothbrush holder.

A U.S. Pat. No. 8,651,290 discloses a device and method to organize aplurality of toothbrushes to promote sanitary toothbrush drying andstoring. This device allows the user to insert a toothbrush into theholder after use. The user will align the bristles of the toothbrush sothat the bristle portion of the brush is facing down and plumb relativethe horizon to allow the toothbrush to air-dry. The holder can beconfigured with multiple receiver members to store multiple toothbrusheswhile preventing cross-contamination. One embodiment features atoothbrush holder affixed to a wall while a second embodiment features afreestanding toothbrush holder. This device may also incorporate a cupholder, or a loop portion with an aperture disposed therein, The base ofthe holder may take various shapes and sizes. The holder may beflush-mounted, or may feature a mounting offset between the mountedsurface and the receiver plate to aid in securing the toothbrush.

Yet another device described in Pub. No.: US 2005/0279663, demonstratesa toothbrush holder assembly for storing and sanitizing a toothbrush.The assembly comprises a holder compartment and a support platform. Inuse, a disinfectant solution is poured into the holder compartment andthe toothbrush head is immersed in the disinfectant solution. Theassembly can be adapted for mounting on a wall or on a horizontalsurface.

Therefore, it is apparent that there are various implements are known inthe art, all of which fail to address all of the problems solved by theinvention described herein. One embodiment of this invention isillustrated in the accompanying drawings and will be described in moredetail herein below.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The Hygienic Toothbrush Holder is an attachment that connects toexisting wall mounted toothbrush fixtures. It consists of a wingextension that attaches to the original holder by two or more screws.The screws pass through the existing fixture holes (where the toothbrushwould normally fit, or air openings) into the wing extension. This holdsthe Hygienic Toothbrush Holder firmly in place. The new holder nowextends laterally past the original fixture holder on both the left andright sides. In each extended area are two variable size openings, twoon the right and two on the left. There may be more openings, ifdesired. Each variable size opening, carries a tubular 3½″ long insert.The diameter of the inserts is sufficient to accommodate all moderntoothbrush handles. Each insert has a stop, at its bottom, to preventthe toothbrush from slipping through. Also each insert is removable foreasy cleaning. The design of this holder retains each brush in anupright position for proper separation so they do not touch each other,and to allow for adequate drying. Similar designs can be manufactured toaccommodate six to eight toothbrushes simultaneously. It is an object ofthe present invention to provide a device capable of storingtoothbrushes hygienically.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a way totoothbrushes in size and in number not supported by existing devices.

It is another object of the present invention to create an adapter toextend the utility of an existing wall fixture and to leave the vanitycounter tops uncluttered.

Yet another objective is to provide a device that permits easy removalof toothbrush holders for easy cleaning.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is another embodiment of the present invention having a fixturecutout.

FIG. 3 is an embodiment shown in FIG. 2 but with multiple variable sizedopenings.

FIG. 4 is an embodiment of shown in FIG. 1 having multiple variablysized openings.

FIG. 5 is showing an assembly of the present invention together withtubular inserts, a fixture and extensions.

FIG. 6 is showing the present invention demonstrating differentpermutations of the variable sized openings.

FIGS. 7A, 7B demonstrate a tubular insert having flange forming anopening into a hollow orifice, which in turns leads to a second opening.

FIG. 8 is another embodiment of the will fixture showing how a soap dishfixture can double as a toothbrush holder when combined with the deviceembodied in the present invention.

FIG. 9 demonstrates how a device can be mounted onto a wall with abracket.

FIG. 10 is an exploded diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an embodiment of the present invention as a sink vanitystand.

FIG. 12 is an alternative embodiment of the present invention showingconversion between embodiments mounted on a wall or fixture, to a standmounted embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be describedwith reference to the drawings. Identical elements in the variousfigures are identified with the same reference numerals.

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiment of the presentinvention. Such embodiments are provided by way of explanation of thepresent invention, which is not intended to be hunted thereto. In fact,those of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate upon reading thepresent specification and viewing the present drawings that variousmodifications and variations can be made thereto.

Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar referencecharacters denote similar elements throughout the several views, thefigures illustrate a toothbrush holder designed to accommodate aplurality of different toothbrush handles. Shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 aresimilar embodiments of the present invention having components ahygienic toothbrush holder 10, a structural plane 20, a top surface 30,a bottom surface 35, a variable size opening 40, and fastener openings50.

The hygienic toothbrush holder 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 has astructural plane 20, having a top surface 30 and a bottom surface 35.The structural plane 20 is preferably a flat surface shaped as arectangle, with the longer sides 21 facing a wall and fixture 60 (FIGS.5 and 6), and with shorter sides 22 being substantially perpendicular tothe fixture 60. The structural plane 20 may be made of a plurality ofmaterials, such as but not limited to wood, metal, metallic alloy,aluminum, iron, stone, a material derived from composites or a resins,rubber, ivory, or porcelain.

The top and bottom surfaces 30 and 35 are preferably machined or sandedto perfect smoothness or even reflective sheen. Alternatively, thesesurfaces 30 and 35 can take on diverse texture and coatings, such as butnot limited to wave, sandpaper, small scale gravel, enamel, paint ordie. The structural plane 20 need not be as rectangle but may be shapedas a circle, a square, an ellipse, a parallelogram, or any other shapes.The thickness 42 it ay preferably be between 1/16 of an inch and ¼ of aninch to provide sufficient rigidity and structural strength. The width43 may be between 1.5 inches and 4 inches.

FIGS. 1 and 4 demonstrate the existence of at least one variable sizeopening 40 disposed or situated within the structural plane 20. FIG. 1shows two variable size openings 40 along each short side 22. In FIG. 4,one short side 22 contains four variable size openings 40, while theother side 22 contains two additional variable size openings 40. Anynumber and placement of variable sized openings 40 can be possible. Theinner wall 43 of the variable size opening 40 may be sloping, making thevariable sized opening conical. Such conical inner wall 43 may bedesirable to introduce traction with a tubular insert 70 (FIG. 5), or toaccommodate a conical insert (not shown).

The at least one fastener opening 50 is shown in a single row with twosections of fastener openings 50, with four such openings in eachsection. This configuration is optimal for fitting multiple sizes andshapes of bathroom fixtures 60. Additional fastener openings 50 can becreated to accommodate a greater number and styles of fixtures. Thefastener openings 50 accept fasteners 55 (FIG. 5) and may be smoothbored or threaded so that the fastener 55 may be secured within such afastener veiling 50 and removed if required. The fastener 55 may besecured by the thread within the opening 50, or by using a nut securedto the portion of the fastener 55 that clear the combined thickness ofthe fixture 60 and the structural plane 20. The present invention mayalso utilize pin fasteners, male to female connectors and snapconnectors. FIG. 1 also shows a fastener opening 41 within a recess 45,designed to accept extension sections 160. The fastener opening 41 and50 may be of the same or different diameters.

FIGS. 2 and 3 demonstrate another embodiment of the structural plane 20.Shown in these figures are a hygienic toothbrush holder 10, a structuralplane 20, a top surface 30, a bottom surface 35, variable size openings40, the fastener opening 41, recess 45, the fastener openings 50 and acutout 140. The purpose of the cutout 140 is to form a slot around afixture 60. As will be shown in later figures, some wall fixtures do nothave a flat underside, but rather form a wedge that is thickest at itsattachment point with the wall 61 and thinnest at the outer edge 62(FIG. 5). This is especially true with earthenware or assembledfixtures, as the underside provides additional structural rigidity or amount point (not shown) for the rest of the fixture 60. The cutout 140therefore accommodates such variable, thickness or a mount point. Thestructural plane 20, shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, can be converted into theembodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 by providing a knockout section a byperforating an outline of a cutout 140. Such perforated or etched linecan be used to create variable sized cutouts 140 to snugly fit arounddifferent models and types of fixtures 60.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate an attachment of a structural plane 20 onto atypical fixture 60. The fixture shown is the type designed to serve as astorage for toothbrushes and a rinsing cup. However, any other type offixture can be used as well. Shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 are a hygienictoothbrush holder 10, a structural plane 20, a top surface 30, a bottomsurface 35, variable size openings 40, fastener openings 41, recesses45, fastener openings 50, a fixture 60, a tubular insert 70, a flange80, an opening 90, a hollow orifice 100, a utility space 130, a cutout140, and an extension section 160.

As will be further illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the tubular inserts70 have a flange 80, which forms an opening 90 into the hollow orifice100 of the tubular insert 70. The tubular inserts 70 are shown insertedwithin the variable size opening 40. The flange 80 in FIG. 6 clearlydemonstrates how it catches the lip 81 of the variable sized opening 40to prevent the tubular insert 70 from falling through. In particular,the variable size opening 80A is substantially square, yet the flange 80of a substantially tubular insert 70 is still able to be housed withinsuch opening. FIG. 5 shows the variable sized openings 40 and thetubular inserts 70 as being substantially the same size. However, boththe opening and the inserts 40 and 70 respectively can vary in size andshape as demonstrated in FIG. 6. In addition, there is no requirementfor tubular inserts 70 to be tubular. Instead, tubular inserts 70 may beshaped as rectangular cuboids as shown.

The tubular inserts 70 are shown with cross sectional diameter 83 beinguniform throughout the length of the insert 70. Therefore the flange 80is required to catch the lip 81 of the top surface 30 in order to keepthe tubular insert 70 in a suspended state. Alternatively, the crosssectional diameter 83 can be shorter or narrower at the bottom 72, whichwould make the insert 70 conical. A conical tubular insert (not shown)need not have a flange 80. Instead, the wider top section 73 caneventually wedge itself within the variable size opening 40. Somefriction between the tubular insert 70 and the lip 81 may be desirablein cases where a toothbrush handle snugly fits inside the hollow orifice100. The friction will prevent a user from pulling out the entire insert70 together with his or her toothbrush.

FIGS. 5 and 6 demonstrate the difference between the toothbrush openings63 of a conventional fixture and the variable size openings 40 of thepresent invention. Toothbrush openings 63 are too small to accommodatean ergonomic handle. On the other hand, the variable size opening 40 canbe made into various shapes designed for specific types of brushes. Forexample the biggest opening 80B in FIG. 6, may be used for a powertoothbrush.

Still in FIGS. 5 and 6, the fasteners 55 are used to attach thestructural plane 20 to the underside 65 of the fixture 60. Installationdoes not require any drilling or modification of an existing fixturesince the fastener 55 uses and existing opening 63 to access thefastener opening 50 of the structural plane 20. A washer 56 may be usedin instances where the opening 63 is especially wide. The undersidemounting is preferred, since it leaves the utility space 130unobstructed. The flexibility of having multiple fastener openings 50 isused to accommodate a variety of different fixtures having differentutilities without having to drill or otherwise customize either thefixture 60 or the structural plane 20.

In FIG. 5, a user wishing to gain additional toothbrush storage mayattach extension sections 160 to the structural plane 20. The extensionsections 160 may be attached with a fastener 55 though the fasteneropening 41 in the recess 45, and an analogous opening on the tongue 162of the extension section 160. The presence of the tongue 162 is notrequired, but is preferred as it makes the connection with thestructural plane 20 entirely flush.

The tubular insert 70 is preferably between 2 inches and 3.5 inches inlength 76 and about ¾ of an inch to 1.5 inches in diameter. As shown inearlier figures, the cross-section 83 may be elliptical, triangular,rectangular or a combination of such shapes. As seen in FIGS. 7A and 7B,the tubular insert 70 contains a hollow orifice 100 for admitting ahandle of a toothbrush. The toothbrush may be inserted handle first orbristles first. The hollow orifice 100 preferably contains the opening90 and the second opening 110. This configuration enables air tocirculate and to flow freely from one open end to the other. Having twosubstantially open ends also assists in cleaning the insert 70. The stop120 serves to secure a toothbrush in a suspended state within thetubular insert 70 without abstracting the air flow. The stop may belocated at the second opening 110 or anywhere along the length of thehollow orifice 100. There may be one or several stops 120 or the secondopening 110 may simply contain a perforated cover. The tubular insert 70can be made from any natural or manmade materials and may be rigid orflexible.

FIG. 8 demonstrates how a present invention can be used to turn a soapdish 60 into toothbrush holder without modifying or customizing the soapdish. The utility surface 130 of the soap dish 60 would not haveopenings for toothbrushes. However, frequently soap dishes conic withdrainage openings 64, which can be used to mate the fixture 60 with thestructural plane 20 using a fastener. The existence of multiple fasteneropenings 50 enables a user to avoid modifying or customizing thestructural plane 20 to adapt it to the fixture 60.

FIG. 9 shows how the device embodied in the present invention can beadopted to mount directly onto a wall. The utility area 130 may be justa flat surface as shown in FIGS. 1-4. The utility areas in FIGS. 1-4 mayalso be indented to provide for a setup where the structural plane 20 ismounted above the fixture 60 (to the top surface of the fixture 60). Theindentation would then provide the utility surface 130. In FIG. 9, theutility surface 130 is shown as to raised surface to keep moisture onany rinsing cup away from the stored brushes. The rear long side 22reveals a connector 190 that is able to slide onto the wall bracket 180with rails 192. The wall bracket 180 is shown as fastened to a supportstructure such as a wall with fasteners 185. The precise configurationof the connector 190 and the wall bracket 180 may vary in shape andappearance. The embodiment that is shown in FIG. 9 with raised utilitysurface 130 may be installed on a fixture 60 if the surface 130 is notraised, or may alternatively be mounted directly onto a wall using thebracket 180 and the connector 190. Essentially the same structural planecomponent 20 may be mounted on a support stand, as demonstrated on FIG.12, with the fastener openings 50 being used to attach the structuralplane 20 to the support stand 170 (FIGS. 11 and 12). The same structuralplane 20 with inserts 70 and utility surface 130 may be used to bemounted directly onto a wall with a bracket 180. This demonstrates theuniversal application of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an exploded diagram of the present invention. Shown are ahygienic toothbrush holder 10, a structural plane 20, a top surface 30,a bottom surface 35, variable size openings 40, fastener openings 41,recessed areas 45, fastener openings 50, fasteners 55, washers 56 afixture 60, a tubular insert 70, a bottom end 72 and a top portion 73, aflange 80, a utility space 130, a cutout 140, an extension section 160,and an attachment tongue 162. While the embodiment having the cutout 140is shown, and embodiment as pictured in FIGS. 1 and 4 can similarly beattached to the fixture 60. The surfaces 30 and 35 of the structuralplane 20 and of the extension section 160 may be the same or different,or may be the same or different colors.

FIGS. 11 and 12 demonstrate the embodiment of the present invention asmounted on a support stand. The structural plane 20 may be assembled aspart of the support stand 170, having permanent legs 172 and otherstructural features 173. As such, the present invention does notsacrifice the hygienic value of the tubular inserts 70 as the opening 90and the second opening 110 are unobstructed in either embodiment,allowing free and unobstructed circulation of air. In FIG. 12 the stand170 may be attached to the structural plane 20 with fasteners 55, withmale female connecters, or with bracket and rail engagement or with anyother coupling mechanism.

Although this invention has been described with a certain degree ofparticularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure hasbeen made only by way of illustration and that numerous changes in thedetails of construction and arrangement of parts may be resorted towithout departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention.

1. A hygienic toothbrush holder comprising: a structural plane having atop surface and a bottom surface; at least one opening, said at leastone opening haying a plurality of sizes; at least one fastener opening;wherein said at least one fastener opening is capable of removableattachment to a plurality of fixtures; wherein said at least oneopening, and said at least one fastener opening are disposed on saidstructural plane; and at least one tubular insert having a stop; saidtubular insert having an opening into a hollow orifice; said holloworifice having a second opening; wherein said tubular insert is capableof being inserted into said at least one opening; and wherein saidtubular insert, is capable of being retained in a suspended state withinsaid opening.
 2. (canceled)
 3. The hygienic toothbrush holder of claim1, further comprising a utility space on said top surface.
 4. Thehygienic toothbrush holder of claim 1, wherein said stop removably holdsa toothbrush in a suspended state within said tubular insert.
 5. Thehygienic toothbrush holder of claim 1, wherein said structural planefurther comprises a cutout, said cutout being disposed along a long sideof said structural plane; and wherein said cutout forming a slot arounda wall fixture.
 6. The hygienic toothbrush holder of claim 1, whereinsaid structural plane further comprises a cutout, said cutout beingdisposed along a long side of said structural plane; wherein said cutoutforming a slot along a longer side of said structural plane; whereinsaid slot surrounds a wall fixture; and wherein said structural plane ismounted on said wall fixture with fasteners connecting to an aperture onsaid wall fixture and said fastener opening.
 7. The hygienic toothbrushholder of claim 6, wherein said at least one fastener opening aligningwith at least one opening of said wall fixture.
 8. The hygienictoothbrush holder of claim 1, further comprising an extension section;said extension section having said at least one opening; and whereinsaid extension section is capable of being attached to said structuralplane.
 9. The hygienic toothbrush holder of claim 1, further comprisingan extension section; said extension section having said at least oneopening; and wherein said extension section is capable of being attachedto said structural plane.
 10. The hygienic toothbrush holder of claim 1,capable of removably connecting to a support stand; said support standcoupled with said structural plane with fasteners mounted into said atleast one fastener opening.
 11. A hygienic toothbrush holder comprising:a structural plane having a top surface and a bottom surface; at leastone opening, said at least one opening having a plurality of sizes;wherein said at least one opening is disposed on said structural plane;at least one tubular insert; said at least one tubular insert having aflange forming an opening into a hollow orifice; said hollow orificecomprising a second opening; wherein said tubular insert is capable ofbeing inserted into said at least one opening; and wherein said flangeis capable of catching onto said top surface to retain said tubularinsert in a suspended state; and a wall bracket; wherein said structuralplane contains at least one connector for removably attaching to saidwall bracket.
 12. (canceled)
 13. (canceled)
 14. The hygienic toothbrushholder of claim 11, further comprising at least one fastener openingdisposed on said structural plane; wherein said at least one fasteneropening can be used to attach said structural plane to a wall fixture bya fastener joining, an aperture in said wall fixture to said at leastone fastener opening.
 15. The hygienic toothbrush holder of claim 11,wherein said tubular insert further comprises a stop; said stopretaining an object in a suspended state within said hollow orifice. 16.The hygienic toothbrush holder of claim 11, further comprising a utilityspace on said top surface.
 17. The hygienic toothbrush holder of claim11, further comprising an extension section; said extension having saidat least one opening; wherein said opening haying a plurality of sizes:and wherein said extension section is capable of being attached to saidstructural plane.
 18. The hygienic toothbrush holder of claim 14,capable of removably connecting to a support stand; said support standcoupled to said structural plane with fasteners mounted into said atleast one fastener opening.
 19. A universal hygienic toothbrush holdercomprising: a structural plane having a top surface and a bottomsurface; at least one opening, said at least one opening having aplurality of sizes; wherein said at least one opening is disposed onsaid structural plane; and a support stand for said structural plane; atleast one tubular insert; said tubular insert having a flange forming anopening into a hollow orifice; said hollow orifice comprising a secondopening; wherein said tubular insert is capable of being inserted intosaid at least one opening; and wherein said flange is capable ofcatching onto said top surface to retain said tubular insert in asuspended state within said at least one opening.
 20. The universalhygienic toothbrush holder of claim 19, wherein said opening into saidhollow orifice and a sidewall of said tubular insert having a pluralityof sizes.
 21. The universal hygienic toothbrush holder of claim 19,wherein said tubular insert further comprises a stop for retaining anobject in a suspended state within said hollow orifice.
 22. Theuniversal hygienic toothbrush holder of claim 19, further comprising anextension section; said extension section having said at least oneopening; and wherein said extension section is capable of being attachedto said structural plane.